Why It's Not Time to Boycott Disney

Social media is alight with calls to boycott Disney. “Disney has crossed a line,” they say. I certainly understand the sentiment. The “special relationship” between the new Beauty and the Beast’s Le Fou and Gaston and their same-sex kiss mark a first for a Disney movie.

But, let’s not fool ourselves into thinking it’s a first for Walt Disney Company. Since 1991, Walt Disney World has held “loosely organized” Gay Days every single year.

Hollywood has been cranking out gay-friendly movies for many years. Brokeback Mountain may have smashed stereotypes with its gay cowboys, but little gay-friendly moments, even kisses, have made their way into Hollywood fare for many years—going back to the early 1900s. Has anyone called for a boycott of Hollywood films? I haven’t heard it. Did Christians boycott Oscar Awards night? I have no idea, but I didn’t hear anything, though many of the films up for awards feature gay relationships.

Let me propose a different idea. It’s not a boycott of everything Disney. Rather, it’s switching from harmful Disney to the Disney that’s fun, moral, and wholesome. For most, this means going back a few years and enjoying the classic films, those that actually teach something positive. (We could start with Pollyanna. Who can forget Haley Mills’ blockbuster performance and her “Glad Game”?) Some of these are better than others, but all of the following Disney movies are basically clean and entertaining.* (Dates shown are the dates of release. They’re listed in order.)

• Snow White (1937)
• Pinocchio (1940)
• Dumbo and Bambi (1941, 1942—both sad for little people)
• The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
• Treasure Island
• Cinderella (1950 Walt Disney’s personal favorite movie, and one of mine, too)
• Alice in Wonderland (1951)
• Peter Pan
• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
• Davy Crocket, King of the Wild Frontier (1955)
• Wild Frontier (1955)
• Lady and the Tramp (1955)
• Old Yeller (1957—sad for little children)
• Darby O’gill and the Little People (1959)
• The Shaggy Dog
• Kidnapped
• Toby Tyler
• Swiss Family Robinson
• The Parent Trap (1961)
• The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)
• 101 Dalmations
• In Search of Castaways
• Big Red (1962)
• Son of Flubber (1963)
• Miracle of the White Stallions (1963)
• The Incredible Journey
• The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963)
• The Moon-Spinners (1964)
• Mary Poppins (I love this one! Ask my kids.)
• The Ugly Dachshund (1966)
• The Happiest Millionaire (1967)
• Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar (1967)
• The Jungle Book (1967)
• Never a Dull Moment
• Blackbeard’s Ghost (1968)
• The One and Only Genuine, Original Family
• The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit (1968)
• The Love Bug
• The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
• Robin Hood (1973)
• Herbie Rides Again (1974)
• The Strongest Man in the World (1975)
• The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975)
• No Deposit No Return
• Gus (1976)
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
• Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977)
• The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again
• The Fox and the Hound
• Beauty and the Beast (1991)

I firmly believe that if Disney found that no one was buying their new films and that many people were looking for the old ones, they would produce more family-friendly movies. Demand is important! We can make a difference!

By the way, that goes for Hollywood, too.

 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

 (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

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*Disclaimer: I have actually seen the movies on this list at some point in my lifetime. I remember them as “good,” though there may be elements that are not, especially dress choices, drinking of alcoholic beverages, smoking, etc. This is by no means an endorsement of every movie, only a list of suggestions. Please read good Christian reviews before ordering.